RESIDENCE CARD FOR AFRICAN HERO
'Superman from Sénégal' gets legal residence in Spain
A WEST AFRICAN hero who risked his life to save a wheelchair-bound man from a burning block has been given residence in Spain on the grounds of 'public interest' – allowing him to pursue his dream of being a lorry driver and renting a flat for himself, his wife and baby.
Spain's government has given the Senegalese youth a residence card unconditionally after responding to a huge nationwide campaign involving local councils, the regional government and members of the public, including a petition on Change.org.
Gorgui Lamine Sow, 20, like thousands of others who made the dangerous dinghy crossing from Sénégal to escape poverty and find work to provide for their families back home, survives by working as an 'illegal' street-seller, peddling cheap souvenir items and dodging the police.
Continues from front page Despite working all daylight hours seven days a week, migrants like Gorgui do not earn enough to qualify for paying taxes, let alone afford the €283 a month in Social Security to become self-employed or rent a shop premises – neither of which they can do anyway unless they are legally resident.
And acquiring legal residence means any non-EU citizen not on a State pension has to have a full-time, 40-houra-week job with at least another year to run on their contract and a wage of at least €1,050 a month after tax – something nearly impossible for even a native Spaniard to find these days.
Gorgui and other Senegalese migrants usually end up living several to a room in a shared house, can just about afford to put food on the table for their family residing with them or, if they are alone in Spain, eat as little as possible and send all their earnings back home to allow their kin to buy food.
But only the young and fit travel to Europe, to maximise their ability to work, and usually men, as it is considered young males' duty to bring home the bread for their families.
They are very keen to work hard and often refuse donations from the public unless these are framed as a 'reward' for their 'efforts and sacrifices'.
Yet many towns fine streethawkers for 'working illegally', and even fine those who buy the odd €5 pair of socks or bracelet from them, meaning they have to keep their wits about them.
Why Gorgui wears a Superman T-shirt
Living in Gandía and catching the bus daily to Dénia to sell his purses, necklaces, keyrings and bracelets, Gorgui spotted a block of flats on fire near the port – and a man in a wheelchair on a balcony shouting for help.
Álex Caudeli, 39, had no way of getting out as he cannot walk.
Gorgui scaled the outside wall, scooped up Álex and 'carried him on his shoulder like Santa Claus with a sack of presents', in the rescued man's words, ensured he was safe, then caught his bus home.
Álex started a crowdfunding campaign to help his saviour out, and gave him and his wife Gana a Superman T-shirt, plus a miniature one for their sevenmonth-old daughter Ndeye.
“If it wasn't for Gorgui, I'd be a pile of ashes by now,” assures Álex, who met Gorgui properly in an emotional and very public reunion a week after the fire.